Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that one of the most critical points in career choice is for individuals to know their own characteristics and choose a profession that suits them, and said that correctly determining one's purpose is one of the important principles for success in life. Tarhan pointed out that individuals with high goals and profound meanings are more successful in their professions, and noted that the 'work less, earn more' approach, which he described as a Hollywood culture approach, makes young people fickle. Tarhan reminded candidates that the unseen aspects of professions should also be considered.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, gave advice to university candidates regarding career choice and making the right decision.
One of the most important decisions, career choice
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that official preferences would begin on July 27th and continue until August 5th. Pointing out the importance of making the right decision during this crucial period for a young person, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “One of the most important decisions in human life is career choice. You are making a career choice and preference. When we say ‘Life is a choice,’ humankind makes one of its most important choices. Because career choice means choosing an area where a person will spend almost one-third of their life, provide for their living, and sustain their life. The chosen field will be an area where they will sustain their life and earn their living.”
Tarhan noted that it is also necessary to pay attention to some important points in career choice, saying, “When making a preference, young people should consult career specialists and preference experts. Undecided candidates can get help from a preference specialist and a career test. Consulting preference specialists will be very beneficial to avoid making unnecessary and empty choices. Preference counselors provide more operational help, while career guidance provides more strategic help. What are that person's personality traits? What potential does this person have? Which profession is most suitable for them to reveal this potential? Career counselors decide this.”
You should choose a profession that suits you
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the most important issue in career choice is for individuals to know their own characteristics and choose a profession that suits them, saying, “If a person does not know their own characteristics, they make choices according to what their family, environment, or media desires, their enthusiasm, expectations, and wishes. However, after such choices, there are regrets. We see many examples of those who retake exams repeatedly, and those who drop out while studying in their fourth year of university. The child says they cannot do it.”
Authoritative approach spoils relationships
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that parents should act as guides during the preference process, stating, “If parents approach their child authoritatively, their relationship will deteriorate. It is not the right approach for parents to act oppressively and authoritarian towards a young person who has reached 18 years of age, especially in today's world where we are in an age of freedom. Educating a child with coercion does not work. In such situations, the relationship breaks down. The child's relationship with their family or with life breaks down. Therefore, families should guide the child here.”
This profession is more suitable for your personality structure…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that parents have a duty to warn their child, saying, “Parents can guide by saying, ‘Look, this profession is more suitable or closer to your personality structure.’ We have a Career Test designed to help undecided candidates in career choice. Undecided candidates can determine their areas of interest by taking this test. The Career Test, also known as the Holland Test, is available on the Üsküdar University website... It's a 90-question test but it is completed in 10-15 minutes. The result of this test provides information about which areas a person can be successful in. Over 500,000 candidates have used the Holland Test in the last year.”
The Career Test can help you know yourself
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the Career Test reveals aspects of a person such as whether they are realistic, investigative, artistic, social, entrepreneurial, or traditional, saying, “It gives an idea about a person's strongest, stronger, and less strong aspects. Undecided candidates can determine their areas of interest by taking this test.”
First, you must know yourself, then the profession you will choose
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the first condition in career choice is for individuals to know themselves, saying, “A person must first know themselves. It is also important for a preference specialist to know the student. Then, they need to know and truly understand the career fields they will choose. The candidate says, ‘I choose this,’ but do they really know that career field? Or are they choosing that profession based on hearsay? How well do they know that profession? It is also very necessary to have information about the field they want to choose before making a preference. Young people should look at career fields and carefully evaluate whether their talents, qualifications, and characteristics are suitable for that profession.”
Perseverance and resilience are important for life success
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that having perseverance and resilience is important for life success, saying, “The 'work less, earn more' approach is a Hollywood culture approach. This makes young people fickle. Perseverance and resilience are very important for life success. You must set a goal and manage to be resilient while pursuing that goal. Here, the attitude of families is important. Previously, families managed many things. Families were responsible for transmitting culture, values, and knowledge. Now, it's not families, but mostly media, especially social media. Of course, they should also get information from social media, but it would be more beneficial for them to ensure joint decision-making by also considering their families' opinions.”
The unseen aspects of professions should also be considered
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that every profession has visible and invisible aspects, and these criteria should also be taken into account when making a decision, saying, “Generally, the unseen aspects of professions are not considered. It is beneficial to confront the unseen aspects when making a choice. Will the person be able to adapt to the conditions of that profession after choosing it? For example, if they choose a profession related to tourism, are they compatible with its conditions? If they choose a profession in an industrial area, for example, will they be able to work in factory conditions? For instance, some professions require standing for long periods. Dentistry is such a field. It is important for the candidate to consider all these.”
Meaningful goals add meaning to the work you do
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that providing a vision to young people when setting goals is also important, saying, “While having your own goals, you should also have goals for the society you live in. You should also do things for the country you live in, and you should have goals in this direction. It is important to have the feeling that you should do things for the planet you live on. This adds even more meaning to the work a person does. It is important for a person to be able to look broadly for their development.”
High meaning is important for intrinsic motivation
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out the importance of adding meaning to one's work, saying, “If a person adds meaning to their work, it becomes easier to find pleasure. When you set only enrichment and earning money as goals in career choice, those are temporary. Is the meaning in life just to live for the moment? Working, saving a little, traveling, having fun, traveling again, working again. In such a life model, there is no meaning in a person's life. In an idealistic life, a person lives with pleasure until the last day of their life. In hedonistic, that is, pleasure-driven happiness, even the body ages prematurely. Individuals with high goals and profound meanings are more successful in their professions. This is also a technique for intrinsic motivation.”
Correctly determining one's purpose is important
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that intrinsic motivation is one of the important keys to success in professional life, concluded his words as follows:
“For there to be intrinsic motivation, a person needs to feel a need. For them to feel a need, they must have goals. There will be a goal, and when there is a goal, a need arises. When there is a need, self-initiation emerges, motivation emerges. For this, correctly determining one's purpose is the most important principle for success on the path of life. This is often overlooked. A young person who only considers financial goals as their purpose will expend themselves in such situations. Therefore, they will choose their own high purposes and goals according to themselves. It is important for a person to choose a profession suitable for themselves today to avoid getting stuck in the past. This is a general rule of psychology. This time, people get stuck in the past. There is a very beautiful saying: ‘Learn from the past, live today, look to the future.’ Let them choose their profession according to these criteria.”